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Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

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Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#431

Post by memetherapy »

sgt wrote: post #420
ineedasername wrote: post #261

Earlier quoted context omitted.

It amazes me that, in wealthy countries, there are significant homelessness problems due to economic displacement. I consider it an existence-proof of the idea that a free market cannot solve all problems. I think homelessness due to other causes-- mental health for example-- are more complex but similarly demonstrate fundamental flaws in the framework of society. Only once was I able to give a homeless person a meal…

General advice: do not give money to the homeless, just give them food. There are of course exceptions in life like with anything, but if your city has a homelessness problem then you and others will only gradually make it worse by giving money.

As someone who's been homeless (and didn't have a drink or drug problem thanks) please fuck off. A night in a shelter costs money. Clothes which regularly get stolen cost money. Going to the bathroom costs money. Having a shower costs money. Travel to find jobs costs money. Medication costs money. Toothpaste costs money.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#432

Post by audiometry »

sgt wrote: post #422
audiometry wrote: post #377

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yeah the preoccupation with “how will the person use this money” I’ve done away with. I donate money to people. If it’s a scam or they use it for “unhealthy” ends, then I consider that is on them, not me. I gave the money with good intentions. I’m not tied to the outcome.

Yes, in a way that's pretty selfish of you (and reflects typical western society). You want to feel good by patting yourself on the back saying "oh well, I did donate", and then expressing interest in any consequences later on caused by the transaction. We all do it, but we also know good intentions can be lined with consequences that you are partially responsible for.

Sorry, pal, with the exception of mentioning my 'rule' for this discussed case, as I think it's important, I don't discuss my donations with anyone, except occasionally my son (to try to push him to behaving with more empathy -- something teenagers are short on)

So I reject your ad hominem attack. Your vein of typical sharp-tongued HN cynicism is very tedious.

Moreover, your remark has the arrogance of assuming all consequences of action are knowable. They are not, but you will need to learn that yourself.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#433

Post by bagels »

mrfusion wrote: post #369
spiritplumber wrote: post #100

I have an older RV that people sometimes try to steal (it's usually meth heads wanting to live on it; I've taken to leaving a plaque on the dash saying that if they want a hot meal instead, just knock on my door). The alarm is aftermarket, and silent. All it does is make the fuel pump go in reverse. (The fuel pump is also aftermarket) It's been hilarious a couple times.

I never understood why we need a fuel pump and a fuel injector .. and a valve that opens to let fuel in the cylinder.

Fuel isn't going to move if you don't have a pressure differential.

Exhaust will go back in to the gas tank without a valve (injector).

Need to control the amount of fuel on each combustion cycle.

That's why.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#434

Post by saiya-jin »

memetherapy wrote: post #431
sgt wrote: post #420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

General advice: do not give money to the homeless, just give them food. There are of course exceptions in life like with anything, but if your city has a homelessness problem then you and others will only gradually make it worse by giving money.

As someone who's been homeless (and didn't have a drink or drug problem thanks) please fuck off. A night in a shelter costs money. Clothes which regularly get stolen cost money. Going to the bathroom costs money. Having a shower costs money. Travel to find jobs costs money. Medication costs money. Toothpaste costs money.

I presume you guys are in the US. In Europe, at least the parts where I live(d), most homeless indeed have drugs problems. There are social places where they can sleep, get clean, they help them with first steps of integration back, but its often tied to being clean from drugs. Many choose not to accept this.

Then for those who reject there is free drug dispensary & usage place, we talk about proper opiates like heroin, not some weak substitutes.

In our situation and location, the money isn't a solution for a beggar. Meal can be, ideally hot in the cold. Also, since we talk about Switzerland, people come from rest of Europe seasonally to beg and then go home to live off social services. Again, no reason to give money.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#435

Post by webdood90 »

memetherapy wrote: post #431
sgt wrote: post #420

Earlier quoted context omitted.

General advice: do not give money to the homeless, just give them food. There are of course exceptions in life like with anything, but if your city has a homelessness problem then you and others will only gradually make it worse by giving money.

As someone who's been homeless (and didn't have a drink or drug problem thanks) please fuck off. A night in a shelter costs money. Clothes which regularly get stolen cost money. Going to the bathroom costs money. Having a shower costs money. Travel to find jobs costs money. Medication costs money. Toothpaste costs money.

If you want to change the way people see this problem, telling them to fuck off is probably not the best way of doing it.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#436

Post by lb1lf »

At least in my jurisdiction (Norway), you install a car alarm because your insurance company still gives you a discount if you have an approved alarm installed.

The cheapest, approved alarm I could find for my beater (an old Land Cruiser) was approx. $200. That translated into a $80/annum discount.

Additionally, I leave the doors unlocked to save any would-be thief the trouble of breaking a window to gain entry. There's nothing valuable inside, anyway.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#437

Post by webdood90 »

audiometry wrote: post #432
sgt wrote: post #422

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Yes, in a way that's pretty selfish of you (and reflects typical western society). You want to feel good by patting yourself on the back saying "oh well, I did donate", and then expressing interest in any consequences later on caused by the transaction. We all do it, but we also know good intentions can be lined with consequences that you are partially responsible for.

Sorry, pal, with the exception of mentioning my 'rule' for this discussed case, as I think it's important, I don't discuss my donations with anyone, except occasionally my son (to try to push him to behaving with more empathy -- something teenagers are short on) So I reject your ad hominem attack. Your vein of typical sharp-tongued HN cynicism is very tedious. Moreover, your remark has the arrogance of assuming all c…

I don't think it's arrogant of him to legitimately criticize you.

Why even reply to the thread if you're going to be so stubborn on your position?

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#438

Post by memetherapy »

saiya-jin wrote: post #434
memetherapy wrote: post #431

Earlier quoted context omitted.

As someone who's been homeless (and didn't have a drink or drug problem thanks) please fuck off. A night in a shelter costs money. Clothes which regularly get stolen cost money. Going to the bathroom costs money. Having a shower costs money. Travel to find jobs costs money. Medication costs money. Toothpaste costs money.

I presume you guys are in the US. In Europe, at least the parts where I live(d), most homeless indeed have drugs problems. There are social places where they can sleep, get clean, they help them with first steps of integration back, but its often tied to being clean from drugs. Many choose not to accept this. Then for those who reject there is free drug dispensary & usage place, we talk about proper opiates like hero…

Nope I'm from the UK but we have a system that is closer to the American then the Swiss. There are services out there but they're incredibly poorly funded.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#439

Post by RegnisGnaw »

syntheticcorp wrote: post #305
RegnisGnaw wrote: post #222

Earlier quoted context omitted.

Depends where you live. Where I’m living it’s also the Motor Vehicle Inspection Sticker. Here every 1/2/3 years (depending on the age) you need to get your car inspected and they give you a sticker if you pass. People steal the stickers to drive cars that either rail inspector or know it won’t pass. Last year someone broke my driver side window and manage to remove my sticker.

Do the stickers not have identifying details like the car’s plate number?

In Nova Scotia, Canada ours does have an identifying detail. It has the number of the relevant inspection. It’s suppose to be applied by the garage. You as the car owner are not suppose to be able to remove and reattach it.

The other guy is right. If the colour matches and the month is good they won’t catch it unless they are being super careful. It’s not 100% but like 95%.

Re: Why do they still make car alarms? (2015)

#440

Post by defen »

pengaru wrote: post #172
fortran77 wrote: post #143

Earlier quoted context omitted.

They will not hesitate in San Francisco to break a $300 window to steal the change out of your ashtray.

Can confirm. On one occasion a homeless person smashed passenger windows on ~8 cars parked on La Playa @ Judah in front of Java Beach. My mx-5 happened to be one of them. When I confronted him about it, he claimed some passers by called him a faggot and that's why he broke all the windows. No ashtray incentive needed when you've got Crazy to make up for it. On another occasion a homeless person reached into my mx-5 a…

Driving an MX-5 in San Francisco...I have to ask - manual transmission? Because if not, you're not really getting the full experience; but if so, those hills must be fun. I'm thinking of some of the streets in the Marina going up to Pac Heights with stop signs.
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